It surely contradicts everything speculated until now. If true, the PS4 will be either an unbeatable monster and/or a clusterf**k to develop for. He knows too much for a non tech guy. He just joined Neogaf to stir this blizzard. I thinks he is a disguised Sony agent. What do you think ?

If that's true then Developers are sure to concentrate on the AMD chip and never use the Cell chip for much. This would leave 1st party with an advantage again! BC confirmed if true though, which is a good thing.

All this is very interesting, but it's going to come down to what devs can get out of the machines. It's about the games. The Vita is an awesome bit of tech, but is lacking the titles to make it a success (at this stage)...and yes I have one.

neogaf were quick to call BS on both rumors. I'll stick to the VG247 and DF until something else comes out.

One of the few gaf users with actual insider info that I trust.

"thuway: WTF is this shit. Do you understand economies of scale? The very idea that Sony is sourcing three vendors for three types of RAM would make this probably the most ill-engineered worthless POS. You need new friends."

If this is true then I expect the SCC may in fact be the cell processor they are referring to.

Perhaps the same as in the PS3 or maybe one with a single PPU and more SPUs to add some extra grunt for calculations for stuff like better physics. I don't see the need to add more PPUs since there is already a good general purpose CPU in the box.

Ports: This is without a doubt the future of gaming. PC will be the standard from now on, or at least until specs. finally stagnate again. PC will do Ultra, PS4 and Xbox 1080 will do Mid - High settings, and Wii-U low settings.

CPU: "Having more cores is an advantage since you can shut off the ones you aren’t using."

Eurogamer state that the PS4 and Xbox 1080 are using 8-core Jaguar processors. So check that off.

GPU: "At this point of the post, the user is very disappointed in the hardware of the systems. The graphical power would be very similar to that of an HD 7850."

Eurogamer states it's likely that Sony's using a 7970M which sits between the 7850 and 7870, however, it's suppose to use 2 less CU's and under-clocked by 50MHz, which could put it on par with the 7850. That or they're going with AMD 7950M which has been low on production lately.

RAM: "Supposedly, Microsoft is opting for slower RAM but more of it, while Sony is going for faster RAM but less of it."

Ties in perfectly with the rumor that MS is using 8GB of DDR3 (5GB for games 3GB for OS), while Sony is using 4GB of GDDR5 (3.5GB for games 5125MB for OS).

Eurogamer's rumors are stating to look more true. If so, then the next gen consoles will be a nice step up, and console-only gamers will finally be able to see what PC gamers have been clamoring on about for the last couple of years.

Mark Rein had stated Unreal 4 would be a launch engine for the next gen consoles and in the same briefing stated that we wouldn't see Unreal 4 until 2014. Deduction Mr. Holmes? While it is possible for the production schedule to have jumped drastically and a console make it out late this year I still hold with the likelihood that 2014 will be the year for the next PS and Xbox.

Well.. obviously, if he sticks around there a bit, he isnt trolling..
I do remember a patent filed for PS2 emulation via the cell. The setup may be possible.. as when hackers used the "exploit" to hack the PS3, they admitted they could never break in through the front door (cell spu dedicated to security).
The GPU having access to the full set of ram.. also plausible.
I dont know what to believe anymore.
Sony. Microsoft. Announce it already!!!

'It is January 2012..the Next box will launch November 2013...do the math that is still almost 2 years from launch at this point and a year and a half AFTER this years E3.

Micrsoft will NOT miss holiday 2013 just to launch for holiday 2014, it literally makes no sense. That would push them to almost 3 years from now. The 360 WILL be almost 10 years and Sony will then have the luxury of launching head to head'

And look what actually happpened

Micrsoft didn't choose to do the 2 traditional 2 E3 announcement and we saw how it backfired on the Wii-U.

They INSTEAD announced it backstage at E3, showed off their final holiday games for the 360 and chose to announce and RELEASE it in 2013 exactly what my prediction said in the first place.

Basically The Cell runs the OS and the core functions of the console as well as last two/three generations of games? The games and all are developed entirely on AMD APU. Even if it were say Cell 2.0 or 1.0 it could do this. Likely possible.

A 2ndary GPU I suspect though as well as the Cell+APU combo. Unless say this Cell design chip scaled up with a 2nd generation design, but even then I wouldn't consider it all that powerful without a 2ndary GPU to boast it up past 1-2 Tflops. Real 4K is not possible on less that 3-4 Tflops. I know 4K gaming is absurd, but if they are aiming for that next gen they need to bring enough hardware to put out 30 fps on 4K resolutions.

Likely APU + Cell/GPU 2 on two different SoCs and then SCC chip as well. Say APU = 1.84 Tflops. Current Cell = .200 Tflops + .992 Tflops = 3.03 Tflops? Just another guess. Perhaps a 2nd generation Cell chip with .400 Tflops? That would equal about 3.232 Tflops if so. Still guesses, but I expect more than AMD 7850 performance. If they don't wow me. I am buying a new gaming PC to play for the next 10 years.

Like Nintendo continuing Broadway design. I suspect Sony might have a piece of Cell design in PS4. Still just rumor though until words are final. I suspect a hundred new rumors from now until E3 are coming.

evil360 now you're jus trying yo save face and bud it ain't working. you said "mark my words" it would be announced in 2012. do you really want people like me exposing you? do you want me to go back and dig up all the other posts you made around that time because you will embarrassed. right after e3 you wouldn't come near any threads cause morg reminded you. amazing you have the nerve to make claims when we can all look up what you said so if you want me to start digging then you just keep talking.

btw I notice you stopped trash talking about 360 beating the ps3. want me to dog up some of those posts too?

how about kinect changing theway we game?

you are one of 5 people on this board so afraid of Sony you have to spend most of your posts attacking them or trying to downplay the. you spend another 40% defending ms and then the last 5% on non related stuff.

'evil360 now you're jus trying yo save face and bud it ain't working. you said "mark my words" it would be announced in 2012. do you really want people like me exposing you?'

LOL..Exposing who? I know exactly what I wrote and reposted it. Why? Because that's what I thought they would do 378 days ago. And at the end of the day, they STILL showed the 720 behind closed doors and a STILL releasing it THIS year, like I said.

GTFOH..I love the hypocrites who only defend Sony, and try to call out others because they don't like the fact when they arent trolling MS like others daily. Yup we get it.

I laugh when these random accounts with 200 posts in 4 years that mysteriously come out of the blue and umm you know the rest..

Any rumor talking about Kinect when it come to the 720 and not much else proves the rumor not true.

I can't believe the writer of this article would dare make those claims as if fact, based on theories made up of pieces of many rumors.

The writer is guessing that MSFT sort of neglected the gaming capability of the 720 in favor apps/kinect. Everything said was based on current talking points.

MSFT is making a hybrid Home theater PC media platform. It will have MSFT's full funding behind it.
The subsidized payment plan MSFT test ran last year and no offical price drops tells you all you need to know about the 720's prowess.

I call BS. MSFT has always valued the GPU over everything else. KInect isn't what would be talked/leaked about in spec/capabilites. 720 is a multi media platform! the GPU would be the exciting thing to leak not KInect. That's how you know this is fake.

and evil I love when these people live at n4g cause they got no other life so when people don't spend their lifeposting here like they do instead of interacting with real live people then these closet dwellers assume...well YOU know the rest dude.

all you did last year was swear how the 360 was gonna be announced at e3. now you trying to back peddle and say you called announce in 2013. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! what a joke.

an though you patted uncharted3 on the back only one or two peeps on n4g spend more time attacking the ps3 than you.

do you really not realize the way you are an the way ever one here sees you? the 360 an ms are always perfect an sony outside of uncharted always fails. some view for a guy that thinks living on this board is the ultimate achievement unlocked.

I love when my posts got these random profiles from hypocrites who clearly defend the PS3 on post after post, but try to call out others because they can't stand MS.

I could care less how many Sony goggled profiles like yourself see me. I'm gaming fan period. If you honestly think that I or anyone on a gaming forum doesnt have a life because they love this hobby then you are delusional.

Here is the facts, if I was in every article trolling the PS3, I wouldnt have bubbles period.

I own EVERY console this gen, and just because I'm a fan of gaming on my 360 doesnt mean I hate my PS3 or have EVER believed MS or the 360 is perfect.

But, it is a FACT that you don't see me jumping in every other PS3 article trolling and attacking the PS3, because that's simply idiotic to bash the system that I support in REAL LIFE outside of the internet.

Again, MS didn't show the new system at E3 (and leading up to and afterward we all could see it was the best decision they ever could make).

But, the news at the SAME E3 was they showed it off to developers in a closed door session. Again my prediction ALL ALONG as that the new system would launch in 2013. But, who knows if MS even wants to launch then. So I could be WRONG on that part of my prediction as well.

But we all know the system will be shown at E3 and they sound pretty happy with what they plan on showing.

that was the sound of me bursting your bubble. you do attack the ps3 an constantly. an you shouldn't talk about defending something cause it makes you look like a hypocrite. ms does no wrong ever in your book. some of your kinect defense diatribes would be downright funny if they weren't so pathetic an desperate.

sales comments by you were also a.augh mr.3rd place supporter. anytime someone mentioned it here you came on your npd pony with your cap guns popping off left an right.

news flash: owning all consoles doesn't make you anymore objective than havinga pair of testicles makes you a man. thinking so is pretty shallow. you think owning a ps3 gives you a license to trash it an be considered right. it doesn't, you aren't, an you can keep living in a world where people like you but imaginy friend dependence is a sign of mental instability.

fact is you flogged people.over last years e3 announcement an you can't admit it. you just want to make counter accusations. you don't think objectively about announcements an that's why you are wrong. you pick the scenario that is best for ms an that's why you fail.

even when it defies logic, facts, an business sense you will say anything to help ms. the truth you can't see this shows how much you'll do anything for redwood.

hahahaha! me? goggles? are you even aware of your post history an how much time you spent attacking sony?

no of course not. its why you can't see what everyone else sees about your post history. I support sony but I don't sit in one 360 article after another attacking ms. im for gaming not against a company at every turn to support another company.

What's wrong with only defending Sony? You do realize that you only defend MS right? Am I allowed to call you a hypocrite and all sorts of other names? '

LMAO @ you literally omitting the rest of the sentence JUST to spin into a rant.

Here I'll help..

'GTFOH..I love the hypocrites who only defend Sony, AND try to call out others because they don't like the fact when they arent trolling MS like others daily'

I can care less what ANY of you defend or even play, but when people come on here and clearly defend Sony at all times then why the hypocrisy of trying and failing to call out others for what you percieve is doing exactly what YOU are doing?

So if what I'm doing is eating any of you on here alive, then I'm clearly doing something right.

there is a canyon wide difference between defending a company (which he does and I do) and attacking a company which he does more than he defends ms. simple but hes just missing (pretending in his room) that he ain't doing jus that thing.

also to you evil you're not eating anyone alive. "im not hurting you am i" the humming bird asked the elephant.

dude there's a big difference between eating someone alive and jus constantly anoying them. you are more like a rock in a shoe or that annoying orange video on YouTube but stuck in a loop.

and dont try to get all superior an act like you aren't part of the 'bickering'. you waited and saved that last comment bubble an tried to sneak back for the last word. thas the actions of someone that feels like they're being devoured.

***"I can care less what ANY of you defend or even play, but when people come on here and clearly defend Sony at all times then why the hypocrisy of trying and failing to call out others for what you percieve is doing exactly what YOU are doing?"***

Can I ask you the same question? I recall you trying to point out the "hypocrisy" of N4G several times, but failing to point out any INDIVIDUAL that actually had the "complete opposite reaction" when similar articles for each console were posted on N4G, but instead you resort to generalizing because can't point out any specific individual. The article about the former MS and Sony employees come to mind.

This seems to be what I thought. However, I think that the pool will be a little different. There will 1gig XDR and 4 gigs GDDR5. There will be a cell processor that will be always incorporated in all PS4 units. The amount of ram will decrease and BC will end once the console is established and redesigned. PS Home will always run in the background using the RSX GPU incorporated with the Cell. This will allow for some unique PS Home experiences with friends. The PS Store and trophies and everything will be accessed from your room in PS Home. MS will have a lot of streamed community services like complete Skype integration through out the console. This means that friends can join up see each other and play games across the world. This will be revolutionary in multiplayer, streaming and competitive gaming. This will also be linked to every service like HBO, Netflix etc and you will never need to close a skype call you con kinect at all times. Also I would gather that voice recognition will be used heavily to the point of turning on any paired devices with the Xbox by voice alone. Smart glass will be ready at launch and fully encouraged and requested to be implemented by MS to devs. The bottom line is whether you trust MS in your living room or you just want a gaming device that can technically do what Xbox can do in PS home but with more people. So you will have the Netflix theatre or the Crackle theatre in PS home but you will not see the actual face of the person only there avatar. Whereas MS will allow for people to really connect. There are philosophies here. So yeah... get hype.

Well why RSX GPU? Any GPU from AMD could do what RSX could do 8 years ago now. You know this right? All they would need is to incorporate PS3 API into the new GPU along with the Cell somewhere in the system.

Even a 2nd generation Cell would work as it could scales its cores and SPEs or whatever they will be called for its applications. Likely they will go with a mid range GPU. As patent they filled states use of 2 CPUs and 2 GPUs with some offload onto CPU when necessary as well.

You will not see next gen specs until MS and Sony release them. This is all rumor and speculation, or lies and BS depending on how you look at it. If there is even a nugget of truth to be found, it will most likely be based on dev kit specs. Dev kit specs are pointless if you're a gamer.

with all the people sony has that knows about the ps4 and all the devs they have to tell so they can make launch titles and the os and apps, you actually think that information cant get out. Most of the stuff sony does gets leaked. was the psv any sort of surprise.

The Sony hate articles get popular because of the big Sony community here that's true.

Just look at the popularity between the two articles about how ps3 and 360 git things right/wrong this gen. The 360 one is hidden on page three filled with trolls whilst the ps3 one was second highest with fanboys moaning despite it being very fair and having an box equivalent.

The agrees/disagrees will tell you. For me its not a problem but its annoying when people deny it.

I was just mocking you for caring so much about pointless n4g console war history, and making it out to be something important. The fact that you, and others, still have a chip on your shoulder about such trivial things amuses me.

@Proeliator, You've only been here since 2010 ? Should have been here when 360 came out... Sony's doooooomed, Sony will never catch up, PS3 sales won't reach 10 million, PS3 is not powerfull enough, Dev's can't develop for that difficult PS3 ! Oh yes, and then came RROD, should have been here also.

this will make everyone hate me, but as the guy suggests, everything is going to be similar; we'll finally have more equal tech games across the board (i.e. no more shoddy ports like with the PS3) so for once, it may not matter which system you buy

Very true. Obviously they'll always exist, but I think this gen we'll only have a very small amount of exclusives. Games are just costing so much to make, it doesn't pay to be exclusive going forward. Obviously for some things like Halo or Last of Us. But the point remains

"very small amount of exclusives" If you're talking about third party, then I agree. However, Sony will continue to pump out exclusives throughout the PS4's life cycle, just as they have with the PS3. It's these exclusives that ensure I'll always buy a new Playstation, the only question is what I'll put next to it. Next gen, I'm thinking a Steam Box will look quite nice, especially with HL3 sitting inside of it.

And the soon to come Sly 4, The Last of Us, and Beyond: Two Souls. By May 8, these 14 IPs (minus Beyond) will make up 31 of my 60 PS3 games. 32 once Beyond comes out. Take out the Sly and Ratchet collections and that's 30 new games I couldn't have played on any other console.

4 days later I see awsome God of war trailer. Just depends on what you want and who the company is focused on.

I will be going with ps4.

I am not really prepared to buy a next gen console but if it's a beast I wouldn't mind paying it off for $20 a month. But that's just me. I would like to see a full price and pay monthly options at launch. That would maximize the amount of buyers. People who just went to the store for toilet paper my just come back with toilet paper and a next gen console.

@Landshark below

Lol your profile says "I develop software and play lots of games. I have also worked at Xbox Live and Microsoft for the past 6+ years. "

It makes me wonder, if they are so similar, then it would make our lives as gamers easier if Sony and MS just became best buds and brought out one Console. Then all this exclusive game crap would end. Never happen like, but one can wish.

This seems like information we already knew though. Rumors have been going around that Sony will announce their next console around may or at least before it. Microsoft has the E3 countdown clock. So anyone can come to those conclusions.

We already knew about the ram and we already knew that Sony's would be fast with less and Microsoft's would have more but slower. The rumors of the price have been going around and we already knew no console maker was going to launch a console again for 599. As for the PS4 being a powerhouse that was a given with the info provided.

The only thing that is knew that I can say this guy has some type of creditability is the info on ports and the system's "similar architecture."

"The 720 is essentially a Windows PC, and the PS4 is basically a Linux PC. This way, developers could port things easily from the 720, PC, PS4 and SteamBox."

It looks really evenly matched between Microsoft , Sony and Nintendo for gen 8. Nobody could predict the winner yet. Based on previous generations , the weakest hardware always seems to come out on top.

Nintendo will have their foot in as usual due to massively popular First party IP's. Sony will have their foot due to probably having the most advanced piece of hardware like PS3 had blu ray for example. Microsoft will have their foot in as they seem to be winning over Americans based on the fact that the console is American.

Steambox , I can't see having any major Impact and even if it does it will mostly take a slice out of Microsofts and Sony's third party pie.

It looks very interesting. If the other big 2 are much more powerfull than Wiiu then it's gunna be a case of choosing between PS4 and 720 with a Wiiu to play the Exclusives it gets , HD Nintendo Games and Off screen play and local multiplayer options.

I'm not sure what's gunna happen. Whilst I think Wiiu will be successfull I'm not confident it's going to win in sales...

Nintendo is anything but evenly matched, fanboy. Learn to have the slightest clue about hardware. If this is shaping up to be true, Nintendo will once again be in the Wii's position, weakest of them all by a considerable amount. Poor kid.

I don't think MS being American has anything to do with it's popularity. Trust me...Americans don't have a lot of love for MS as a company. For several decades they were pretty well hated on, although often times unfairly, but you know how it is when a company is big. Just look at how much hate Apple receives now, despite the fact their business practices are pretty much the same as they've always been...ie restrictive hardware that they control, overpriced products, etc. Before they were considered a major player, you never heard much about them outside of some cool stuff they did once in a while in the PC market, and their once stellar digital graphics capabilities.

Windows received a lot of hate for the most part. XP came to be well liked. They do make quite a bit of quality software outside of gaming, but most people overlook that. Their business practices overall are pretty much loathed across the board, again sometimes unfairly, other times justly.

Xbox's popularity came down more to advertising the hell out of it, along with offering a fairly impressive line up of games. Something Sony and Nintendo also do, but the lack of advertising means a lot of consumers don't know about them.

Edit: I may also add that the rise of western developers had some part to play, as the initial games on Xbox and 360 were more geared towards a western audience. It was pretty impressive when the 360 launched compared to the previous gens offerings, so likely that swayed some people as well.

looks like your and poor fanboy too huh? We don't even know the final specs of the ps4 and 720... And the source for this article is a "anonymous developer who had time to work with these consoles"... yeah totally believable if you ask me

@rainslacker you beat me too it. Microsoft is not loved by americans and the majority of the things we buy are made in china or where ever. I would imagine that they did so good because their ads were all over the place and xbox live and halo. they also came out first so if all your friends have one and you only really care about playing multiplayer shooters your going to get one too. xbox won in america because of its focus on online fps not because microsoft is an american company

"xbox won in america because of its focus on online fps"...that might have been in the past, but there are pretty much no "exclusive" shooters any more; or any advantage on the 360; unless you want to point out Halo and Gears. But everything else runs on PS3 as well. And free online should be a factor in the decision making. But it isn't lately...which quite boggles my mind. But MS built a reputation; focused on the american market. And I would think because for them it's a home game. It certainly plays some role in the numbers we see.

Everything that gets posted from next generation consoles are to be considered rumors until either Sony, Microsoft or both come with their press releases and/or unveiling. Wait until the official word to pass judgement.

Exactly because that's what they are, just rumors. A rumor comes through here everyday with 900* heat with 100 plus comments and the next day its forgotten about and that cycle continues until Sony and MS finally announce something.

BF3 on 1080p and 60fps is considered last gen. I already have this with my pc, next gen shuld give us more. Else I don't see a piont buying it. And what will hapen in early 2014 when new gen on pc gpu-s ships, like nvidia maxwell.

Yea, i have that on my pc too. It cost $2500... Can't really be compared to consoles that are supposed to come out at a price point of $400.

As a pc gamer you should know you can't compare consoles to pcs. When current gen can't even output 720p in bf3 and barley keep it at 30fps(all on settings that are LOWER than the lowest on pc), 1080p and 60fps is next gen for consoles.

It's already been said by devs that this next gen will not nearley be the graphical leap of last gen to current gen. It's all about 1080p and 60fps, that IS console next gen.

Less than you thinkI may have spent more on hardware, but I made it up on games. My current PC ran about $1,300. I have 37 games ( 3 are FTP) and spent around $300 on them. Also my PC games library had newer games like blops2 and Dishonored. I spent around $8 a game. Total spent on PC = $1,670 ( $70 on gaming mouse)

On my ps3 I have 32 games. Almost all bought new at $60 a pop. So to be fair, I'll say $50 a piece , becuse I don't remember exactly how many used. ( it was maybe 2 but.....) Games = $1,600 + $350 ( ps3) + $55 ( 2nd controller) =$ 2,005 Also my ps3 library is filled with old games, god of war3 ,cod4 and socom 4.

I could go into more detail on $ on gpu updrades and such , but this is my 3rd ps3 and only 2nd gpu so.......... Ps3 would still loose that cost battle.

I don't really care about the cost. Sort of...I like the convenience and that's it. And the guarantee that the game will work - 100% (not 80%, not 98%) and it will run with the features advertised. If it does 1080p in 60fps on a level of BF3 with all specs enabled that would be quite awesome. So, we'll see how that'll turn out. But if nothing it's a cool gadget to have.

You shouldn't compare hardware between consoles and PCs from a 1:1 perspective. Keep in mind that console developers can optimize and optimize strictly to the hardware they're working with. No Windows OS to worry about or any other behind the scenes functions.

Sony studios made God of War III, Killzone 3, and Uncharted 3 with 512MB of total RAM and a CPU/GPU that were high end back in 2005. If they have 3.5GB of GDDR5 RAM and a CPU/GPU that were high end back in 2011/early 2012 then I think we'll see some big leaps once optimization starts to happen.

It won't appear like as big a leap as PS2 > PS3 (at least not at launch), but that's because most of the improvements will be "little things" like shaders/lighting, particle effects, more players on screen (think 64 players in BF4 as opposed to 24 in BF3 on PS3/360), 60FPS in most games, etc.

That may not sound like much to a person who upgrades their PC every year or two, but to someone like me who only plays on consoles it's music to my ears.

If they can do all of this and keep the price under $400 (the source of this info said $300-$350 is possible) then color me excited.

I agree with you for the most part. But consider that even Sony first party titles render at 720p often with lower res effects, low res textures and sometimes even struggle to maintain 30 frames per second.

I'm hoping to see a big jump in texture quality, resolution, and frame rate, at least matching medium+ spec PC.

After I switched from console to PC I could start playing first person shooters again, on console I got dizzy and nauseated. I guess it was the blurry graphics and the jerky frame rate that caused it.

@Bordel_1900: Yeah, I have to agree with you on the point of low framerates on current-gen consoles. These old systems are really starting to creak under the weight of recently released games. Far Cry 3 and Crysis 2, for example, have framerate dips down into the 15 fps or less range.

Such poor performance really kinda ruins the experience for me, and was the main impetus for me to finally upgrade my PC.

The fact that COD targets 60 fps is one of the few advantages it has left over Battlefield and other competing shooters. In my eyes, it's critical that all competitive online multiplayer games start targeting 60 fps--this would allow for much more fluid and responsive gameplay.

PC is always ahead in graphics/performance so what you said always applies to consoles, but these are next gen consoles meant for people who owned the previous console, not for people who have good PC's so obviously you won't be blown away. But since they are dedicated maxhines for gaming we should see some good looking games in the first couple of years they are out.

Next gen consoles will have games that make them struggle, as John Carmack already stated Doom 4 would run 30fps on them and 60 on PC.

So many rumours I don't know what to believe anymore, therefore I won't even pay attention to any of them until Sony actually comes out and says what the final specs for the PS4 are. This is getting annoying.

Yes, it is all speculation as far as I'm concerned. If the specs for the next Xbox are true, then I am disappointed. To much power focused on the OS and kinect 2.0. Why are they shoving it down our throat, especially when it probably won't work with any good games anyway?

I am a multi-console owner, but if MS approach next-gen is to rake in the casuals, I will not support them. I hope other 360 owners do the same. Unless they miraculously start to pump out more exclusives (general support) and show me they care, they can get lost for now. I'll just wait for a massive price drop.

I haven't been keeping a complete track of all the rumors, but THIS entire rumor from an alleged source sounds like a composite of all the rumors that have already been floating around, just in one place...

Something to consider though, if the two consoles are architecturally similar to one another as well as PCs..

Though no one thinks a console company would do something like this again, what if they design consoles to be upgraded every few years (not retroactively), but where games simply run better on the newer variants without alienating the older console versions that just play the games on lower settings automatically.

Keep the console market competitive with newer tech while not going full next gen after a few years... I think it would work if they really tried.

It's good in theory, however it fragments the market. Sega's 32X was supposed to be an upgrade to improve console performance, however it wasn't supported and it bombed. Other variations of this theme have been attempted as well. With cartridges it wasn't so bad because it was invisible to the user if they added chips to them. From a cost perspective though it was pretty expensive for the publishers to do this for every single unit sold.

When designing games the developers would have to design the game to the lowest common denominator to ensure that it would work. This means that any extra functionality would require people to upgrade. You wouldn't really see vast improvements to the upgraded versions for the most part, although some developers may take the time to do it. If the console manufactuers didn't make it mandatory to support older versions of the hardware, then some developers would have it required for their release, but it would also be cutting out a section of their potential buyers.

On top of that as new technologies become available...which they will after next gen starts...you'd be restricting the actual ability to upgrade to those new technologies which could in theory improve game performance. This is because when it comes to a console the only easily upgradable items are the memory, and possibly the video card depending on how it's designed.

Looking historically, the only true hardware upgrade that I can think of that was really successful was the Super CD-Rom card for the original Turbo-Grafx CD. It's the only one that received wide spread support, as well as a complete reintroduction of a new system with the hardware built in in the Turbo Duo. All it was was a memory upgrade. Their Arcade card, which increased the memory again didn't catch on in the same way. Most of this was in Japan though, as the Duo died a slow death here in America.

Yeah, I just WISH someone would try it, maybe a totally PC oriented group could attempt it and make a PC/Console hybrid designed to scale like PCs have done for ages, but for the consumer who prefers the console "experience."

I know much of the history, but today, an iPod or iPhone can change drastically from gen to gen, specs, everything, but the games work, mostly. IDK. I will dream :)

Im pretty sure it will be easy to use the same adapters to use keyboard and mouse on 720 and ps4. I love to cheat on consoles because it pisses off people and its gratifying. And there isnt a single thing people can do about it.

Let me tell you how powerful I am. I join up competitive league play and if a team needs an extra player they ask me to ring for them. And I drop 50 kills and less than 5 deaths. I make good teams that are flawlessss look like garbage. Ive played mlg players and toyed them with pistols. I dont play as much as I used to. Just imagine that I become the best player instantly in the northern hemisphere because my adapter makes me. Ive played entire matches with shit rifles and score 125 kills and 0 deaths.

wait a minute if ps4 essentially a linux pc then could steam box be in ps4 aswell? O_O you know since steam is already connected with ps3 it only makes more sense to combine steam box on ps4 aswell... that would be a huge blow to microsoft.

PS4 is what im going with for sure.. Not because of the power or anything but cuz i love ps plus & i love their exclusives.. I will also buy a 720 if they have a good line up of exclusives that interest me... If its jus halo & gears esq, im not gonna bother with it.. Multiplats go to sony as well as MS so i wont miss out on any killer 3rd party plus ill have my vita to add to PS4 experience.. Cant wait! I hope MS gets some new IPs that dont all involve guns & aliens.. Fable went to $hit so im done w em for now.. The witcher 2 is the absolutely ONLY reason i didnt get rid of it last year.. & ill hold on to it to sell for more PS4 money

Ok, having worked at Xbox Live (on Microsoft campus) for 2+ years, I can tell you that this whole article is junk.

First of all, I do not believe for one second that the guy has insider information on both console companies. Even if he had information from just 1 console company, he's facing some serious legal issues.

Granted, it seems his speech is really all about guessing and whatnot.

The rumors within Microsoft's own IEB division are almost always true and I'll say that I won't believe anything I see written on the internet until E3.

The internal rumors are that yes, MS will release info about the next Xbox at E3 this year (2013). It's not a guarantee, but generally most internal rumors have much more truth to them than anything I read online.

Well these rumors are more and more likely to be closer to the truth. Xbox 720 with HD7850 GPU and PS4 with rumored HD7970M, but both having very similar CPU.

Looks like PS4 will be graphically superior and faster with 4GB DDR 5 but next XBOX will have more Ram be it slower version DDR3.

Looks like Sony will go all out with power but the only thing im concered is that RAM needs to be higher. I know PC uses in average 2gb but thats becasue PC games are running current gen games from consoles and sexing them up via resolution, FPS ect. PC is not used in full capacity. If Consoles have 4 to 8gb RAM use then PC will use 6 to 8GB RAM as standard for games next gen. Consoles will really help push PC forward. So more RAM is needed for console to be relevant for the next decade.

If Sony comes with 4GB DDR5 of which 1GB is reserved for System, i believe that will be its biggest downside. I know Sony doesn't wanna put stupendous cost with it but maybe add 1GB DDR3 for system and let devs use Full 4GB DDR5 RAM.

Microsoft in the other hand are gonna need allot of RAM. With the new kinect 2.0 and rumors of built in PVR. I reckon MS are almost gonna do a nintendo and go primary for the casuals. Less on power and more on motion gaming and all around media.

MS is not going all casual like nintendo, kinect just happens to be one of their focus but I'm pretty sure nextbox will have plenty of games for the hardcore aswell. I would love it if the kinect got great reviews next gen.just to shut some of the haters up! People make it seem like its the standard controller for the console and that all games will require the use of it.

"Looks like Sony will go all out with power but the only thing im concered is that RAM needs to be higher"

dude....an hd7850 or a 7970m are both mid spec at best, this is not in any way bad news, just not super powerful either, they have to think about all the people who would FREAK OUT if it was over $500

next gen consoles will be able to play bf3 on ultra at 30 frames in 1080p....thats a huge jump seeing as ps3 and 360 only managed bf3 in the LOWEST POSSIBLE SETTINGS at 704 at 25 frames per second

also, this would allow full player count instead of the tiny maps with only 11 other people on your team max.....lol....thats not even what i would call battlefield.....now 64v64 and 32v32......lol...thats a battlefield

anyway...based on most reasonable estimetes, next gen consoles will be highly efficient, low energy drain, but powerful enought to do mid-high end pc quality gaming, nowhere near cutting edge stuff in 1600p and 64x anti alasing......but certainly a monumental leap over sub-hd and screen tearing we have now on consoles

So the PS4 & 720 are close both close enough to each other in specs & multiplats will all play equally on both systems.. exclusives are what will drive Next Gen, I really, truly hope Microsoft are working on a bunch of em' otherwise I'll likely only need a PS4 Next Gen.

The Rumor seem to be true. Sony has a tremulous amount of manufacture resources to make the PS4 while Microsoft don't. So that leaves me to believe that Sony's PS 4 is going to be more powerful than Microsoft's Next box.

That being said, I can clearly see why Microsoft would increase the RAM, considering how cheap RAM are compared to other hardware component.

Though,the next box I think will be an all purpose machine while Sony will just be a powerhouse with limited functions. With the kinect 2 hardware being implemented in Microsoft's next gen console The extra RAM will difinately be needed to run properly.

Another factor I'd like to point out here is, I think Microsoft is making the next box weaker than Sony's PS4 on purpose. I think Microsoft don't want the next box to interfere with their PC market; Being that the next box is going to run very similar to a PC.

If its true that MS is putting all their focus on the Kinect 2.0................well this will suck major ass! Once again they want to shovel this shit down our throats without us having a say in the matter. MS, we want more system power, more disk space and MORE FREAKING GAMES YOU DUMB SONS OF B*****! Not this so called Kinect 2.crap!

I read the article and not one time did it say that MS is puttig all their focus on Kinect 2.0. It did however say that it will have more ram so that it could have kinect 2. Tell me where in article does it say MS focus is on kinect 2. Are you gonna have as much hate for the move 2 when it releases on PS4 cause it sucks too!!

Thats because you should of read the actual reddit article. Here is the quote, "The two consoles from the looks of it should cost around the same but a lot of the money for the 720 will seemingly go to Kinect 2.0 while Sony will invest all that money in faster RAM and a more powerful GPU." I could careless about Move dude. The fact of the matter is that the Xbox 720 is gonna be like the Wii this gen.Nothing but casual games. MS said it themselves in other words they just shot themselves on the foot and you can bet your ass many of its loyal fans this gen will be jumping ship next gen. And i am one of them.